377 
Webb, John 
A catalogue of seeds and roots* [London, 1750?,*53?] 
78 p. (W, Roberts) 
Mr. Roberts, Gard, Chron* (3) 64:71-72 (Aug. 
17, 1918), says: ”It was printed for John Webb, 
seedsman, at the Acorn, in Bridge Street, West¬ 
minster, and extends to 78 pages quarto. It is 
undated, but from its typographical get-up may 
have been published about 1750.” 
It seems possible that the list in possession 
of Mr. Roberts may have been one that was noted 
in the London Magazine for 1754, as follows; 
"A compendious and methodical account of seeds 
and roots, shewing their kinds, season of sowing, 
planting, and cultvire, according to the new stile, 
having been lately printed for John Webb, seeds¬ 
man, in Bridge-street, Westminster; as the season 
is advancing when these gifts of divine Providence 
are (as they usually do) coming into general use, 
for the benefit, health, and convenience of man¬ 
kind, we shall give our readers the following ex¬ 
tract from it, which relates to sailed seeds.” 
The extract, London Magazine, v,23, p.27-28, 
73-74 (1754), consists of paragraphs on ”lettice” 
endive, celery, spinage, parsley, finochia, tar¬ 
ragon, onion, leek, carrots, parsnips, turnips, 
radishes, beets, skirret, scorzonera and shallot. 
There was also a bare announcement of a list, 
which must have been the one extracted above, in 
the Gentleman's Magazine, v.23, p.542 (Nov.1753), 
where the title reads s ”A catalogue of seeds and 
roots, under their proper heads. Webb." Weston, 
Cat. (1769), p.53, gives this as "A catalogue of 
seeds and roots, under their proper heads, by W. 
Webb, seedsman, 1753." It would seem as if the 
initial ”W,” used by Weston must have been pure 
invention. Johnson, p,205, evidently following 
Weston, also says ”W, Webb, seedsman," CBoehmer, 
Bib, Script. Hist, Nat. 3(l);709, gives "A cata¬ 
logue of seeds and roots, divided under their 
proper heads, shewing their different kinds ... 
colours of flowers, height and time of flowering. 
London, 1754." Boehmer does not name the author, 
but there is little doubt the 1753 issue was by 
John Webb, and it seems rather doubtful whether 
there ever was any 'W, Webb." (j^^COy 
- Catalogue of seeds and hardy plants, with instruc¬ 
tions for sowing and planting, by John Webb, seedsman, at 
the Acorn, near Westminster Bridge. London, 1760. 28 p. 
(Brit. Mus.) 
Given in Cat. Bib. Banks. 3:100, and Pritzel, 
1st ed,, 10998, 
